You are here

Exhibitions

Crossroads of Empire: Early Printed Maps of the American Southwest

The Map Maker at Work, from Nova Reperta (New Discoveries), 1580. Courtesy of The University of Texas at Austin General Libraries.

The Southwest remained a land of mystery long after the rest of the continental United States had been surveyed and recorded on maps. Crossroads of Empire: Early Printed Maps of the American Southwest details the fascinating story of the discovery, exploration, and settlement of the area. This exhibition conveys the romance of maps, the legacy of mapmaking, and the profound influence of early mapmakers on our world today.

Exhibition

Crossroads of Empire: Early Printed Maps of the American Southwest features fourteen panels spanning the mapmaking enterprise from 1512 to 1873. It begins with the earliest known map to show the Texas edge of the Gulf and ends with an 1873 map of Texas showing the right-of-way granted to railroads. Panel topics include:

Cabeza de Vaca in the desert

Maps from the 1500s

Early mapmaking techniques

Spanish explorers

California as an island

Plagiarism in maps

La Salle's fatal venture

Spanish missions

Early nineteenth century maps of the Southwest

Views of Texas territory

Maps for settlers

Railroads and Native American tribes

Map of the United States, 1854

Crossroads of Empire is an exhibition organized by the Amon Carter Museum and The University of Texas at Arlington Library, and produced by Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Exhibition Format

Freestanding

Languages

English; Spanish

Content

7 double-sided panels (26” x 38”)8 support legs (68” tall)

Space Requirements

112 square feet of floor space (14’ x 8’)

Shipping Weight and Dimensions

Travels in 2 plastic cases:

41” x 33” x 9” - 98 lbs.

81” x 8” x 8” - 45 lbs.

Rental Fee*

$300*

Rental Period

4 weeks

*Rental fees are based primarily on the cost of shipping. Prices may vary based on current fuel surcharges or venue location within the state of Texas. Out-of-state rentals are priced on an individual basis. Please call for a rental fee quote specific to your venue.

Print Materials

A specified number of print materials are provided with this exhibition at no additional cost. Additional copies of these materials may be obtained for a nominal fee:

50 brochures discussing maps, discovery, and change in the Southwest in English

50 brochures discussing maps, discovery, and change in the Southwest in Spanish

10 posters

Publicity Materials

Press release

Publicity image

A publicity image is available for promoting this exhibition at your venue. Please contact the exhibitions coordinator to request an electronic file of this image. Please allow 2-3 weeks for the exhibitions coordinator to process your request.

Humanities Texas logos

Venues may request a CD with the Humanities Texas logo in a number of electronic file formats for use when developing print and online promotional materials. Logo files are also available for download on the logo page.